Transfer Talk: Chelsea after Russia star Aleksandr Golovin, Gonzalo Higuain

Chelsea's managerial situation is uncertain, but they are pushing ahead with their player recruitment. Transfer Talk is on it.

June 29, 2018 • 12:55 AM

The transfer window is open, and Transfer Talk has the latest rumours making the rounds. Follow along with our daily blog throughout the summer.

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Chelsea have moved ahead in the race to sign CSKA Moscow and Russia midfielder Aleksandr Golovin, the Telegraph say.

Golovin has been one of the stars of the World Cup, helping Russia progress to the knockout stages for the first time as a separate nation.

The report says that Chelsea are not looking to loan him out should they complete a deal, as they look to beat several top European clubs to his signature.

Potential future Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri was rumoured to be after the player during his time as Napoli manager.

The Blues are supposedly open to selling midfielder Danny Drinkwater, though they want to keep Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Ross Barkley.

Live blog

23.00 BST: That'll do it for tonight's LIVE Transfer Talk blog. Remember to follow all of our World Cup coverage tomorrow as France take on Argentina and Uruguay take on Portugal. We'll also be back in a few hours with the latest rumours, links and done deals from across the world of football. Good night!

22.55 BST: Chelsea may be in the market for a new striker after Alvaro Morata struggled in his first season in England.

Italian outlet CalcioMercato claim that the Blues have reached out to Gonzalo Higuain's people about potentially bringing the Juventus hitman to London.

With ex-Napoli boss Maurizio Sarri tabbed as the new Chelsea manager, a reunion between Higuain and Sarri makes some sense.

Higuain managed 23 games last season in all competitions for Juve but scored 38 in 42 games under Sarri back in 2015-16.

Higuain would likely cost somewhere upwards of £50 million.

22.28 BST: Melbourne Victory have announced that A-League legend Besart Berisha is leaving the club and the country for a move to Japan.

Besart Berisha departs #MVFC. Details: https://t.co/pu1tyJgp1U pic.twitter.com/U1JY0Gtx1H

— Melbourne Victory (@gomvfc) June 29, 2018

The 32-year-old Berisha is the all-time record goalscorer in Australia's top fight with 116 goals and is reportedly set to join Sanfrecce Hiroshima of the Japanese League.

Berisha leaves Australia as one of the most decorated players in the league's history.

22.00 BST: Man City have reportedly locked down a summer signing but it is not Jorginho or Riyad Mahrez.

City have reportedly snapped up highly-rated 16-year-old Ben Knight from Ipswich Town.

The Premier League champions will reportedly pay £700,000 for Knight, the nephew of former England cricketer Nick, with further add-ons depending on how he progresses at the club.

Knight is a long ways away from playing at the Emirates with the first team but is considered one of the brightest teenage talents in England.

21.19 BST: Could Manchester United make a surprise move for world-class Real Madrid and Germany midfielder Toni Kroos?

Spanish outlet AS suggest that Jose Mourinho and Man United vice-chairman Ed Woodward have discussed the possibility of making an approach for the 28-year-old central midfielder.

Kroos would be an alternative to Lazio's Serbian starlet Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, who has been heavily linked with a move to Old Trafford for the past month or so.

The two hurdles to this potential deal are that Man United have already signed Fred this offseason in central midfield and that Kroos has a little... €500 million release clause standing in the way!

I'm going to chalk this one down in the VERY, VERY unlikely category.

20.54 BST: -- DONE DEAL -- Nottingham Forest have a new striker. The club have announced they have signed Algerian hitman El Arbi Hillel Soudani from Croatian powerhouse Dinamo Zagreb.